Canon vs Nikon: which DSLR or mirrorless camera should you buy?

Canon vs Nikon: Enthusiast DSLRs

Once you’ve outgrown your first DSLR, or need something which can handle more challenging shooting situations, then you’ll be looking towards Canon and Nikon’s enthusiast options. Today, these are headed by the Canon EOS 90D and the Nikon D7500.

Both the Canon EOS 90D and the Nikon D7500 sit in the same kind of category, but being the newer of the two, the Canon is more expensive. That said, given that the EOS 90D inherits some high-end features from models above it, you could argue that it offers better value for money. 

The Canon EOS 90D includes the highest resolution sensor you’ll find in an APS-C body, at 32.5MP. You also get great handling with lots of dials and controls, a long battery life, an optical viewfinder which offers a 100% view and uncropped 4K video recording. That’s a lot of bang for your mid-range buck.

Although older, the Nikon D7500 doesn’t fare too badly in comparison. The biggest difference is the sensor resolution, which is a more modest 20.9MP – but you could very well argue that this makes the files easier to handle, as well as being better suited to low-light shooting. Otherwise, the specs are relatively similar, with a 100% optical viewfinder, 4K video recording and a good battery life.

At this point in your shooting career, you may well already be invested in a system. If you’re already toting a bag of lenses, we probably wouldn’t recommend jacking it all in to switch to a different camera at this level. But if we had to pick one, the Canon EOS 90D would be the winner, especially if budget is not too much of a concern.

Winner: Canon EOS 90D

Pro-spec APS-C DSLRs

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

There are some DSLRs which straddle the enthusiast and pro category. They feature APS-C sensors, but include a number of high-level specifications that advanced shooters are usually keen to get hold of.

Here, there’s healthy competition between the two brands, with them both offering very appealing models which are great all-round performers. 

There’s the Nikon D500, which goes up against the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. Both are fairly old (in camera terms), but still have a number of class-leading specifications which are still worthy of your attention.

Although many pros will naturally head towards full-frame, having a crop sensor makes a lot of sense for wildlife and sports photographers, as you can get closer to the subject. Both of these models have also been designed with photographers who shoot fast-moving subjects in mind. The Nikon D500 has a 20.9MP sensor, while the 7D Mark II is a 20.2MP affair – so far, so similar.

Where the two diverge is in terms of the focusing systems. The Canon 7D Mark II offers a 65-point all-cross type AF system, while the Nikon D500 boasts 153-points (with 99 cross-type/55 which are manually selectable). Both cameras give you 10fps shooting, but when it comes to the buffer, the Nikon D500 is the clear winner – you should be able to shoot 200 raw frames before it’s full, compared to the more modest 31 from the Nikon.

There’s also a couple of areas where the Nikon comes out on top here too, such as 4K video recording and a larger, touch-sensitive screen. These specifications keep the D500 still looking relatively fresh some five years after its announcement. Meanwhile, the 7D Mark II, now over seven years old, is starting to show its age. In some respects, if you’re a Canon user you’d be better off plumping for the 90D, especially if video work is your forte.

Again, it stands a good chance that if you’re in the market for either of these models, you’ll already be fairly heavily invested in one camera system or the other. But if not, it’s the Nikon D500 that's the clear winner of the two here.

Winner: Nikon D500

TOPICS
Amy Davies

Amy has been writing about cameras, photography and associated tech since 2009. Amy was once part of the photography testing team for Future Publishing working across TechRadar, Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, N Photo and Photography Week. For her photography, she has won awards and has been exhibited. She often partakes in unusual projects - including one intense year where she used a different camera every single day. Amy is currently the Features Editor at Amateur Photographer magazine, and in her increasingly little spare time works across a number of high-profile publications including Wired, Stuff, Digital Camera World, Expert Reviews, and just a little off-tangent, PetsRadar. 

Read more
Nikon Z8 on yellow background
Best Nikon camera 2025: the top cameras from Nikon's entire line-up
Lead image for TechRadar's round-up of the best DSLR cameras, featuring the Nikon D850
The best DSLR camera for 2025: top choices for photography and video
Canon EOS R5 Mark II on a red background
The best Canon camera for 2025: Canon's finest DSLR, mirrorless and compact cameras
Nikon D7500 on a cyan background with radar graphic
Best beginner DSLR cameras for 2025: top entry-level choices for new photographers
Sony A7 IV lead image
The best camera for photography 2025: top picks for every budget
Sony A7 IV lead image
Best full-frame camera 2025: the top big sensor DSLRs and mirrorless cameras
Latest in DSLRs
Nikon Df DSLR camera on a wooden surface by large window, with dusk light
Forget Fujifilm, I've retested 2013's Nikon Df DSLR and it's the ultimate retro camera for these 6 reasons
Monochrome image of a distant wind farm alongside a Canon DSLR camera in the hand with black background
You don't really need a new camera – a $200,000 photo prize was just won with this old Canon DSLR
Photographer holding the Nikon D800 DSLR camera up to their eye while leaning on a tree trunk surrounded by bluebells
I used my DSLR for the first time in years since switching to mirrorless – here are four things I learned
Two cameras sitting next to each other on a wooden table
If DSLR cameras are dead, why are they still so popular? Here are 5 reasons
Prouct photo of the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome with a 16-50mm f/2.8 attached
Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome review: one love
Canon EOS 4000D with 18-55mm lens attached on red background beside a lowest ever price text
This Canon beginner DSLR is so cheap right now it might even tempt you away from mirrorless
Latest in News
an image of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Finally! One UI 7 has a release date - here are the Samsung phones that’ll get it first
Google Cloud logo
Google to acquire cloud security platform Wiz in $32 billion deal
GIMP 3.0 interface from the website
Our favorite free photo editor finally got the update it deserves - and these are the top 5 features designers should know about
FCC filing for the Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus
Nothing’s next-gen CMF cheap earbuds slated to arrive within the month, but don’t expect hi-res audio support
John Loeffler holding the Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Great news! The best gaming CPU ever made is finally available for it's original MSRP again
Garmin Instinct 3
A new Garmin study hints at the link between burning calories and happiness, and I've got good and bad news